WEEK 7. Distance learning. Africa.

A discussion of Distance learning in Africa.

While for many other countries, distance learning is simply a convenience allowing education to be juggled with other commitments, or to overcome the logistics of travel, the website (below) provides some more serious benefits. It discusses a cholera outbreak in Zambia which resulted in postponed exams and education and suggests that elearning could have prevented these disruptions.

The website also discusses that distance learning increases the availability of education for those who it was previously unavailable to-particularly those in rural areas and women. While this availability to previously ignored groups may seem like a benefit, the notion of ‘Brain Drain’ (lecture notes) makes me question the long standing effects of such learning. If those in rural areas are becoming educated as are those in towns and developed areas, it seems likely that they will then desire a variety of different jobs which these qualifications allow them to persue. Although suggesting that these people shouldn;t be encouraged to seek education may seem strange, the idea of brain drain suggests that they will then relocate as a result of their new knowledge in search of such jobs. The implications of this in terms of the effect it will have on these rural areas should be considered carefully and looked at in terms of the point in my previous post about the logical conclusion of more people desiring education and less people taking interest in skilled work that is desired in such areas.
Positively, however, distance learning allowing women to challenge the somewhat dated gender prejudice they are subjected to in some African countries seems very positive.

Further to the ‘Brain Drain’ distance learning may cause, a digital divide between those in rural and developed areas can only increase as a result of this. As those who can access (or are literate, both in terms of technology (Livingstone) and the language) education increase, the gap between those who cannot only increases meaning they become less powerful as those with knowledge and education become richer and more powerful.

http://www.elearning-africa.com/newsportal/english/kategorie_develop_partners.php [accessed 14/03/09]